Today I attended the funeral of a student that used to attend our school. He wasn't my former student, but he was one of our "Big Buddies" in one of the 6th grade teacher's class. I remember him as a kid who just loved to have fun, and he was amazing with his little buddy- always engaging and playing on his little buddy's level.
His dad spoke the most today, and I must say, he did an amazing job sharing his son's life and legacy with us. It was really what we already knew about him- he loved life, loved to have fun, loved to laugh, loved to be a boy, and what his dad really stressed- he loved Jesus...at a time in a young boy's life when that might not be the 'cool' thing to do, this boy did. Wow.
As I sat through the celebration of this young boy's life, crying all the while, his dad talked about their family's struggle with the "Whys" of how this all happened. He said that all they could take comfort in right now was that their son is with God and somehow, someway, this would touch other people's lives in the most meaningful way.
All I wanted to do was go home and snuggle with Abby and drink her in...I believe for me, that is what memorials and celebrations of life remind me of- that I DO have Abby and Kyle at home and they are healthy and happy and beautiful. Sure, Abby's a stinker of sorts at times, but man, in the grand scheme of life and love, does any of that really matter?
What a heart heavy way to remind me of my wonderful life blessings. I've been told that as a teacher that there will be a time when I will attend a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, whatever you'd like to call it, of a student/s of mine...I cannot even imagine. There is nothing in all of the education you can receive that will ever prepare you for this. Nothing.
His dad spoke the most today, and I must say, he did an amazing job sharing his son's life and legacy with us. It was really what we already knew about him- he loved life, loved to have fun, loved to laugh, loved to be a boy, and what his dad really stressed- he loved Jesus...at a time in a young boy's life when that might not be the 'cool' thing to do, this boy did. Wow.
As I sat through the celebration of this young boy's life, crying all the while, his dad talked about their family's struggle with the "Whys" of how this all happened. He said that all they could take comfort in right now was that their son is with God and somehow, someway, this would touch other people's lives in the most meaningful way.
All I wanted to do was go home and snuggle with Abby and drink her in...I believe for me, that is what memorials and celebrations of life remind me of- that I DO have Abby and Kyle at home and they are healthy and happy and beautiful. Sure, Abby's a stinker of sorts at times, but man, in the grand scheme of life and love, does any of that really matter?
What a heart heavy way to remind me of my wonderful life blessings. I've been told that as a teacher that there will be a time when I will attend a funeral, memorial, celebration of life, whatever you'd like to call it, of a student/s of mine...I cannot even imagine. There is nothing in all of the education you can receive that will ever prepare you for this. Nothing.
To you Logan, may you continue to make people smile from above...
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family who suffered such a great loss :-(
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